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Aussie men improve, but no gym medal

Steve Jancetic

It was better but just not enough for Australia's male gymnasts, who were unable to repair the opening day damage as they finished outside the medals in the artistic teams event at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Some crucial errors on the pommel horse and floor the previous day left Australia needing a perfect run and a lot of luck on Tuesday, and while they improved to jump ahead of Wales, it was not enough to seriously challenge for a medal.

"Both days we've had good starts, rings and then today high bar," said Australian coach John Curtin, who was left lamenting veteran star Naoya Tsukahara's poor dismount on the pommel horse and Luke Wadsworth's slip on the floor a day earlier.

"That was really disappointing, that would have bumped us up in the team event."

Having completed their rotations before the Scots, English and Canadians hit the floor, the Australians could only take a seat in the stands and watch their mark get reeled in.

While the final margin was significant, it wasn't a seamless day for England, with Oldham - who was part of the Great Britain team that claimed Olympic bronze in London - landing awkwardly on his left ankle during his vault routine.

He was taken away in a wheelchair and did not return.

England would have been counting on Oldham's routine on the parallel bars and the high bar going towards their team total, while he was also in strong contention for the individual all-around before the injury.

He had qualified for the floor final and rings with imperious routines on Monday, but would now be considered extremely unlikely to take his place in either final.

Tsukahara just missed a start in the pommel horse final, but did enough to get through on the rings and parallel bars.

He will also take part in the all-around final on Wednesday along with teammate Wadsworth, their chances of a medal sure to increase given Oldham's failure to qualify.

Wadsworth was relieved to get through after an injury-interrupted lead-up.

"I've had a bit of trouble with my elbow recently so I haven't been able to get the amount of p-bar routines in that I've wanted," Wadsworth said.